In Search of Sleep

Last night was the first I really noticed this. I woke up several times with my mouth open and air rushing out. I have some ideas on the cause. I switched from auto to straight CPAP at my prescribed pressure (12). This is a bit higher than the 90% pressure the machine has reported, so I'm sleeping with a slightly higher pressure than I am used to. Also, I'm starting to have allergy problems (early spring is always bad for me), and I may have been congested. I also felt like the C-Flex didn't provide as much exhalation relief as the A-Flex, but I can only use C-Flex in CPAP mode.

I'm going to try a decongestant before bed tonight to see if that helps. Hopefully I'll get used to the higher pressure quickly, too. If not, I may have to go to a full-face mask or a chin strap.

I received my sleep study report today. A few items of interest:

• Moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with an AHI of 17.6
• No REM sleep until the end of the titration at 12 cm H₂O
• Central apneas observed during titration until pressure exceeded 9 cm.
• Lowest O₂ saturation of 87%

It's going great! I've been using the CPAP every night for the entire night since I got the machine. Yesterday (Sunday) I felt the best I've felt in a long time! I got a lot done this weekend, and I even was able to spend some time with the kids! :-) I wake up, and I'm not tired. I'm not crabby. I love it! :-D

The CPAP machine shows an average AHI for the past week of about 3. I haven't gotten a copy of my sleep study report, so I don't know where I was before, but 3 is good.

I've had the Respironics ComfortGel mask for a week now, and I getting more annoyed with it every day. I either get it too tight which causes soreness, or it is loose enough to leak with the slightest head movement. I did finally manage to sleep on my side with it, but it took a lot of adjustments.

I just got back from the DME supplier with a new Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 mask. This is a nasal pillow mask. It is a lot less bulky, and I hope it will work better for me. I'll find out tonight.

CPAP machine manufacturers always hide some settings from the end user.  Apparently they think we will start randomly changing our pressure settings! Fortunately, this information is available online, although I'm sure the manufacturers aren't happy about it.

http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=130

I used the CPAP last night. I didn't sleep as well as I had hoped. I think the newness of the machine and mask made it harder for me to sleep. Oh well. I still feel more rested today. I don't remember any dreams from last night. It seemed like I didn't dream at all.

The A-Flex feature of the machine (exhalation pressure relief) causes the machine to "breathe" with me. It is quiet, but I can still hear very rhythmic sounds from it that match my breathing. That may take a bit to get used to.

Mask fit doesn't seem quite right, but I'll keep working on it. 

I have my CPAP machine! The report from the sleep study wasn't ready, so the DME supplier (LMI Home Medical) set me up with an Auto-PAP. I have the Respironics Auto M Series with the ComfortGel mask.

I'm looking forward to some restful sleep tonight.

A couple of photos from the sleep lab: (click the image to view it larger)

My room at the sleep lab

The equipment in the room

It went well last night. I definitely have sleep apnea, and the CPAP worked great. (It was a split-night study.) I haven't felt this awake in a long time. The sleep tech told me that she could hear my snoring through the door during the first part of the night, but I didn't snore at all with the CPAP mask on. Now I just have to wait for my doctor to get the results so she can write the prescription for the CPAP.

I'll be leaving for my sleep study in less than an hour. I'm excited! Hopefully everything will go well.